Don’t use a business plan template – it’s just too limiting!

Okay, that’s another controversial headline and once again it is intended to make people searching for a business plan template to think twice! People talk about a business in a box, but a template is the worst kind of box…

So what am I talking about? Well…

FACT – Any business plan template by its very nature will confine your business planning

Think of it like this… A business plan template is essentially a set way for you to create your business plan (no surprises there!) – BUT… that means the template will only ask certain questions, require certain items of information and is therefore essentially a box.

The idea is that you will squeeze all your hopes and aspirations for your business into that box…
…but what if it doesn’t fit? …what if your business is greater than the business plan template caters for?

Essentially…

A business plan template is a box designed by someone else which means it will NOT fit your business perfectly!

For many years now I have been working as a business consultant, coach and trainer. In my time I’ve worked with hundreds of businesses – big multinationals, government offices, financial institutions and local small businesses – and many of them have been caught out by the ‘box’, limited by a business plan template.

On so many occasions the template seemed a great idea, after all, the use of templates is normally an efficient way to quickly create a desired result. But, the business plan template is a notable exception. Yes, it gives you a process to complete a business plan, but that process was someone else’s idea as to what should be included when planning your business.

Whether intentional or not, the creator of the business plan template will have made certain assumptions about what is needed in a ‘good’ business plan. This means that anyone planning a business and using that template may be asked to create information which has nothing to do with your planned success. Similarly, some items which are crucial to your success may not even be covered by the template.

Whatever the case, the result is a flawed business plan.

So is every business plan template without merit?

No, every template has its merits, you just need to make sure you get a template (or even a combination several) which works for *you* and *your* business.

I deliberately stress the words “you” and “your”, because this is YOUR business, not someone else’s.
So before diving into that business plan template you found on the internet, sit down and consider these three points:

• What do you, as an individual, want out of your business? – The easy answer is money, but is it just the money or do you want to have extra time as well? What I’m talking about is the time to enjoy the good stuff in life like family, friends, hobbies and interests.

(because I assure you it’s an exceptional business plan template that covers such important considerations!)

• Where do you want your business to end up? – Perhaps you want a business that delivers a certain type of lifestyle, one that is a million miles away from a J.O.B. Then again, maybe you want to develop your business into a market leader monster. Or maybe you want the monsters success AND the lifestyle as well! Obviously each of those potential outcomes will have different considerations, concerns and opportunities.

And finally…

• Where does all this start for you and your business? – No two businesses start from exactly the same place and you need to know exactly where you are at before you get going. It’s like having a map but not actually knowing where you are at in the first place …the map is useless, and so would be any business plan without a starting point.

Once you are equipped with these answers you’ll be able to be a lot more discriminating when deciding if a business plan template is right for what you and your business actually want to accomplish.

How to get started WITHOUT a business plan template

Every business needs a business plan but it doesn’t need to be done in a set format, there are other ways to map out your success besides templates.

So, with this in mind and to help you get moving in a more meaningful and purposeful way, I’ve put together five free business videos for you. These videos are going to help you answer the questions posed above …and you’ll get a much clearer idea of what is the right business strategy for you and your business.

Just click through now and avoid the template box! You’ll find you have the answers to the questions posed above and a whole lot more too!

…That said, if you still decide to use a business plan template, just stay aware of their limitations!